|
THE
Senate is set to conduct a separate inquiry into the
alleged invasion by South Korean shipbuilder Hanjin
Heavy Industries and Construction Ltd. of the Subic rain
forest following the filing Monday by Sen. Loren Legarda
of a resolution authorizing the investigation, in aid of
remedial legislation.
“We will definitely look into the
allegations,” Legarda said, following reports that
Hanjin was allowed to build two high-rise condominium
projects within the protected lush forest reserve inside
the former Subic Naval Base. “This is a very grave
allegation that we cannot just sweep under the rug,” she
said.
In a statement, Legarda cited reports
that Malacañang earlier issued Executive Order (EO) 701
dated January 22, 2008, directing all heads of
departments, bureaus, offices and agencies of the
government to support the investments projects of Hanjin.
It was learned that Hanjin plans to
invest some $3.6 billion (about P150 billion) to put up
two shipbuilding and repair facilities, one at the Subic
Bay Freeport Zone for $1.6 billion, and the other at the
Phividec Industrial Estate at a cost of $2 billion,
according to EO 701.
The two projects were expected to
generate a total of 50,000 new jobs, according to the
presidential directive.
“If you have investment projects these
large, there are bound to be issues. We will look into
these issues, and ascertain whether the projects are in
full compliance with environmental protection laws,
among other statutes,” Legarda added.
She noted, for instance, that in
Hanjin’s Phividec project, “there have been complaints
that some communities there have been dislocated, and
that the families affected were not adequately
compensated.”
Administration Sen. Miguel Zubiri backed
calls for an inquiry into the “Korean invasion” even as
he pressed for the dismissal of erring Subic Bay
Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Department of
Environment and Natural Resources officials who allowed
the destruction of the rainforest to give way to the
$20-million Hanjin hotel project within a prohibited
area.
“Subic is a precious habitat and natural
resource, not a mere piece of expensive real estate,
whether it be for a hotel or for expats’ housing,”
Zubiri said.
He complained that the two-tower housing
project for the Koreans and Hanjin workers are “shot
with environmental violations.”
“First, they cut off trees from a
long-standing forest. Next, this encroachment threatens
the health of the Subic watershed system serving our
brother Filipinos living outside the gates in Olongapo
City, not just the economic zone. Destruction to habitat
and threat to biodiversity are also clear,” he added. |
